Chris Cummins

“Every young player has potential…

Forward Football is a unique business that will allow many young players the opportunity and time to develop and give them a chance to reach that potential.

Having spent the last 18 years working at various levels in football from Grass Roots to Professional Youth Development and finally as a Manager/Coach in the MLS in America, I found that at every level there were players not being allowed to reach their full potential for one reason or another.

My Passion has always been for developing young people and players and I have a track record of which I am immensely proud. Whilst employed in youth football, I was responsible for developing 45 players who have played 25 games or more at professional level. Whilst working with Senior players in the MLS, I continued to used this approach and was successful in winning the Canadian Championship, achieving qualification for Concacaf Champions league and Toronto’s highest ever league position.

I have built up a reputation as one of the best Youth Developers in the UK and I will be putting all my Knowledge, Experience and Passion into Forward Football.

I am keen to use these varied experiences and innovative approach to Player and Coach development, and coaching in future challenges.”

Funniest Football memory
Paolo will be remembered not only for some of the great goals he scored but also for his sometimes eccentric behaviour and this is one of those rare occasions . Paolo Di Canio gives the referee Paul Alcock a tiny little push and he falls down in the funniest way I have ever seen!

Where England went wrong…
It seemed to me that we were not the usual tight together England team that would run through brick walls for each other!!!!

Happiest time in football to date
Every time I see one of my young players make their debut. I seem to kick every ball for them if only from the stands and obviously Ashley proving many people wrong. He is a credit to all that have worked with him, and his desire and attitude to continue to be the very best he can at all times proves that people do get it wrong some times.

About Chris’ football mentor, Graham Taylor

“When I first started as a young coach I was given the opportunity by Kenny Jackett to join Watford FC as a part time coach, He was a terrific role model for me and along the way I was given my very first Professional full time contract by Graham Taylor nearly 16yrs ago.

I was very lucky as I had an opportunity to learn off many great coaches and managers, however the one that really had a major impact on my career probably without knowing was Graham Taylor. Graham was a manager that showed an outstanding attention to detail in everything that he did, he was so passionate and knowledgeable about every aspect of his job that you knew as a player or a member of his staff that there was a great deal of thought and care about everything he did.

His standards were always set high and he expected and demanded that off everyone. There were many great assets that he had however one of the key ones for me was his man management skills, he always seemed to know how to deal with any individual and knew how to get the best out of you.

He made you feel wanted and you felt that there was a real personal touch from him even in the little things like knowing your wife or children’s names you just felt that he cared.

Graham was always available to talk to and ask advice and now a few years along in my career I realise how important it is to be available to people and make them feel how he made me feel as a young coach.”